[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 106 (Thursday, July 17, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S9580]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           THE TEN WORST ``BAD APPLE'' GUN DEALERS IN AMERICA

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, earlier this week, the Brady Campaign to 
Prevent Gun Violence released a report entitled ``The Ten Worst Bad 
Apple Gun Dealers in America.'' This report analyzed national crime gun 
trace data from 1989 through 1996 gathered by the U.S. Bureau of 
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and identified the 10 gun 
dealers who sold the most crime guns and exhibited sales patterns that 
ATF considers to be indicative of gun trafficking. According to the 
Brady Campaign, most gun dealers are never associated with illegal 
activities, but guns sold by these 10 dealers turn up in the wrong 
hands over and over again.
  According to the report, one dealer in Indianapolis, IN, sold 398 
guns later used in crimes from 1989 through 1996. These guns were 
involved in at least 7 homicides, 12 assaults, and 2 robberies. In 
addition, the Brady campaign found that between October 2001 and 
January 2002, one man used two straw purchasers to buy 25 handguns from 
this dealer and then resold them on the streets of Chicago. Another 
trafficker used straw buyers to obtain 12 and 9 guns on two different 
occasions in 2002.
  Another gun dealer identified in the Brady report, this one in West 
Milwaukee, WI, sold 554 guns later used in crimes. These guns were 
involved in at least 27 homicides, 101 assaults, and 9 robberies. From 
1994 to 1996, 1 straw purchaser bought 10 guns from this dealer. 
Several of the weapons have been recovered from violent criminals, 
including a murderer, a rapist, an armed robber who later raped a woman 
at gunpoint, a man who shot at a police officer, and three juvenile 
shooting suspects.
  The Brady report highlights the potential damage and abuse that just 
10 bad apple dealers can cause. The Brady report reveals the disregard 
of a few in the gun industry for even basic self-regulation. The Lawful 
Commerce in Arms Act that recently passed the House and that has been 
referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee would shield negligent and 
reckless gun dealers from many legitimate civil lawsuits. Certainly, 
those in the industry who conduct their business negligently or 
recklessly should not be shielded from the civil consequences of their 
actions.

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